Nidus for aerobic bacteria applicable to closets and urinals.



E.L.SHORT. Y I NIDUS FOR ABROBIU BAGTERIA,APPLIGABLE T0 GLOSBTS ANDURINALS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 190B.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

ANDREW. n. alumni can FNOTlM-"HOGMPNUIS. wAsulNm'ou. n'u.

E. L. SHORT.

NIDUS FOR AEROBIO BAGTERIA,APPLIGABLE TO GLOSETS AND URINALS.APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

{SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inuen'BF fligar Law q 5502/ Z W M I MMMM Qmm 1 mam snnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn mu ,ug

' onnrcn.

EDGA It LAWRY SHORT, OF MILDURA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-FIFTH TO ALFRED PIOKFORD, OF MILDURA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

NIDUS FOR AEROIBIC BACTERIA APPLICABLE TO OLOSETS AND URINALS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR LAWRY SHORT,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Ettiwanda avenue,Mildura, in the State of Victoria, Australia, fruit-grower, haveinvented Improvements in Nidus for Aerobic BacteriaApplicable to Closetsand Urinals, of which the following is a specification.

With closets and urinals the offensiveness of urine depends upon thetreatment it re-' ceives, and this invention consists of a nidus foraerobic bacteria which provides those conditions which are favorable tothe bacteriological processes by means of which the urea contained inurine is changed into inofiensive substances.

The nidus consists of a quantity of absorbent material which isfavorable to the growth of air-borne bacteria (such as the saw 'dust ofAustralian red-gum timber) contained in a porous frame-work orreceptacle. Its chief characteristics are absorptiveness and porosity,consequently air will penetrate to its interior as easily as water does,and the air-borne bacteria which assist in breaking up organic matterinto inorganic substances will be enabled to perform their functions inthe nidus.

The urine having been separated from the solid matter when necessary bysuitable means falls on and is absorbed by the nidus. The urea moleculesare broken up by the airborne bacteria, the m'ere water is disposed ofpartly by'drainage and partly by evaporation from the surfaces of thenidus accordingly as the surrounding air isdry or charged with moisture,that which drains through the nidus is harmless and may be drained awayby suitable means, or thrown away.

In order to prevent the liquid from falling on to the nidus on-the sameplace every.

time it is used and in order to insure periodical rest and reaerationthroughout the nidus which is necessary for the continued action of theaerobic bacteria, the nidus is rotatably mounted and furthermoreprovided with suitable mechanism which causes it to revolveintermittently and automatically by the weight of the erson using thecloset or urinals. Where t e use of closets is not great, the automaticmechanism may be dispensed with.

The drawings illustrating the invention Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 21, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

Serial No. 411,905.

and an outside elevation of the respective halves of one suitable formof clutch employed. Fig. 8 a detail (broken) showing the draina e trayformed in two pieces. Fig. 9 a vertica section of the nidus showing oneform of its construction.

According to this invention as appertaining to pan closets it isnecessary to provide means for draining away the liquid only and onesuitable arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for the purpose. The pan1 is provided with perforations 2 in the bottom 3, covered by a hingedconvex false bottom or strainer 4 having a serrated edge 5 to facilitatethe eXit of the liquid and prevent the passage of the solid matter.Inside the pan and at the front thereof is a vertical funnel 6 providedwith a strainer 6 near the upper end and connected at the bottom with ahole 7 in the bottom of said pan. The liquid is drained through the panprincipally by means of this funnel and that which passes into the panis drained away through the perforations 2 in the bottom thereof. Incase said perforations become choked, a shaft 10 is provided on theinside of pan having perforations in the side, and is closed at the topand open at the bottom where it communicates with an opening 11 throughthe bottom of the pan. The drainage from the pan accomplished by theperforations 2 in the bottom thereof, the funnel 6 and shaft 10, ispreferably arranged in the front half of the pan as illustrated in thedrawings, so that the liquid is discharged in the rear end of theaerobic bacterial nidus 12 situate beneath. Said nidus comprises aforaminous vessel or receptacle 1 covered externally on its side andbottom l preferably by wire netting or other form of wire work 1 1, andthe whole subsequently tarred, while it is furthermore lined internallywith canvas 15 or like material of open texture and filled with dampedsaw-dust or like absorbent substance 16, which is topped with cinders orcharcoal 17. The nidus is provided with a central vertical spindle 18,which is suspended from overhead bearings, and journaled also at itslower end in a suitable bearing. v i ith this construction the spindle18 is provided at the top with a circular head 19 journaled in a bearing20, formed in a bed plate or bearer 21, while its lower end is journaledin a footstep bearing 22 situate about the ground level, or in aninternal bearing 22 formed at the lower end of a pipe 23 projectingdownwardly from the bearer 21 as in Fig. 9. The bed-plate or bearer ispreferably mounted on slides 33 to facilitate the removal of the nidus.

In order to insure that the liquid will be distributed evenly over thewhole surface of the aerobic bacterial medium, the nidus is regularlypartially revolved each time the closet is used. To this end automaticmechanism is provided, which is set in motion by the weight of theperson using the closet-or urinal through the medium of a springcontrolled hinged element, which latter may consist in the case of acloset of the seat, and in the case of the urinal a hinged portion ofthe floor or a platform is utilized. The intermediary gear for impartingmotion from the hinged element to the spindle of the nidus consists ofany suitable device that will impart intermittent rotary motion in onedirection only such for instance as a ratchet device or a clutch. Inthecase of the closet, the seat 2 1 is used the hinged element and it ishinged at the rear and provided at its front and on the underside withan eyelet 25 to which is hookedthe upper end of a vertical bar 26preferably formed with an L-shaped foot. Where a ratchet is used asshown in Figs". 1, 2, and 3, the lower end of the bar 26 is removablyconnected by a pin 27 to a radial arm 28 loosely mounted on a horizontalshaft 29, which latter is journaled in bearings projecting from thebearer 21. Said arm carries a spring pawl 30 adapted to engage with aratchet wheel 31 secured to the shaft 29 and upon the latter is mounteda worm 37 Y geared with a worm Wheel 38 on the spindle of the nidus. ItWill be obvious that a clutch 39 may be substituted for the ratchetdevice in which case the bar 26 would be connected directly with the arm40 of said clutch (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7). The clutch may be one of thewell known kinds used 011 free wheel cycles which is made in two parts(Figs. 6 and 7), and operates only when its arm 40 is depressed, andsaid arm is provided with holes 41, into any of which the pin 2?connecting it to the vertical bar 26 may be placed in order to adjustthe stroke. The seat 21 is normally maintained in its raised position bya spring 232 attaclne-d at its respccth e ends to the vertical bar (orthe arm of clutch) and the frame 1 of the closet.

vVith the foregoing mechanism, the weight of a persons body when beingseated on the closet depresses the seat and through the bar 26 operatesthe ratchet device and rotates l he worm 37 and worm wheel 38, thuspartially revolving the nidus and presenting a fresh surface for theliquid. With urinals as in j. 4, there being no solid matter to dealwith, the liquid is discharged directly into the nidus 12.

Where the urinal nidus is auto natically revoluble the gear is situatebelow the filter and the hinged element consists preferably of a hingedplatform -13, situate about the level of the lioor, whicn is connectedby the bar 26 with the arm oi clutch 39 (or ratchet device). It will beapparent the platform will be depressed by the weight of the user and sopartially rotate the nidns eachtimc the urinal is used.

The liquid which passes through the nidus is caught in a shallow traybeneath, said tray being inclined and adapted to discharge into a gutter45, Fig. -1 or into a bucket 4(' Figs. 1 and 2 placed in a pit 47 forthe purpose.

The spindle ]8 of the nidus may pass through a hole 48 in the drainagetray, and around said hole is formed a vertical rim 19 which may becovered by a convex plate 50 on said spindle in order to prevent liquidcscaping from the drainage tray. lliththis construction the latter ispreferably made in two pieces to facilitate removal, the line ofdivision passing through the hole 48 and one of said pieces overlaps theother as shown in Fig. 8.

With regard to the bacterial medium, it is to be clearly understood thatI do not bind myselfto the substances mentioned, but it is essentialthat the bacterial medium must be such as is favorable to aerobic, i. c.air-borne bacterial growths.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim isy 1. Improvements in or relating to a nidus applicable toclosets and urinals comprising a revolubly mounted foramineus vessellillcd, with an absorbent medium favorable to aerobic bacterial growthsand adapted to re ceive the liquid only substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. Improvements in or relating to a nidus applicable to closets andurinals comprising an automatic revolubly mounted l'oraminous vesselfilled with an absorbent medium favorable to aerobic bacterial growthsand adaptlll) teams;

ed to receive the liquid only substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. A revoluble nidus for aerobic bacteria filled with an absorbentmedium favorable to aerobic bacterial growths provided with a centralvertical spindle, a circular head on the upper end thereof journaledinabearing in an overhead bearer, and a bearing forthe lower end of saidspindle substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A revoluble nidus for aerobic bacteria filled with an absorbentmedium favorable to aerobic bacterial growths having in combinationtherewith automatic revoluble means comprising a spring supported hingedelement adapted to be depressed by-the weight of a person and connectedwith revoluble gear for transmitting intermittent rotary motion to thespindle of said nidus substantially as and for the purpose set forth;

5. In a revoluble nidus of the type set forth, in combination, means forautomatically revolving the nidus comprising a centrally located spindleassociated therewith, a worm wheel on said spindle, a transmissionshaft, a worm on said shaft in gear with said worm wheel, a springsupported hinged element and ratchet connecting means between saidhinged element and said transmission shaft.

6. In a revoluble nidus of the type set forth, in combination, aforaminous vessel mounted for rotation, mechanism for rotating saidvessel, a hinged closet seat, a bar depending from said seat andforminga part of said mechanism, and a spring connected to said bar andto a stationary part, said spring returning said bar to initial positionafter each operation thereof.

7. Arevoluble nidus for aerobic bacteria in combination with a closetpan situate above same and provided witha perforated bottom, an internalfunnel on the interior of the front side of said pan provided with astrainer to receive liquid only and an inclined drainage tray beneathsaid nidus substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with a revoluble nidus and its spindle, of a drainagetray formed in two overlapping pieces and having a center hole with aprojecting rim through which the spindle of the nidus passes, and aconvex plate on said spindle substantially as and for the purp osesetforth.

9. In a revoluble nidus, a container having a base, a supporting bar, atube depending from said bar, an internal bearing associated with saidbar, and a spindle depending from said bar through said tube and conenected to said base, said spindle being journaled in said tube andbearing.

10. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a revolublymounted con"- tainer, a spring supported element arranged to bedepressed. by the weight of a person resting thereon, and gearingbetween said element and said container for partially rotating thelatter upon each depression of said element.

11. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a rotatablecontainer, gearing for rotating said container including a shaft rotatedin a stepby step manner, adepressible operatingelement, a rod associatedand movable therewith, a ratchet element for rotating said shaft, aconnection between said rod and said ratchet element for operating thelatter upon each depression of said operating element, and spring meansfor returning said operating element to normal position.

12; In an apparatus of the type set forth, a revolubly mountedcontainer, means for rotating said container in a step by step mannerand a closet stand constructed to discharge its liquid contents upon thecontents of said container at a fixed point in its rotation. V

13. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a revolublymounted container, means for rotating said container in a step by stepmanner, a closet stand constructed to discharge its liquid contents uponthe contents of said container at a fixed point in its rotation, aspring supported element, depressible under the weight of a personresting thereon and operative connections between said element and saidmeans.

14. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a spiderframe and a vessel seated thereon and constructed with a foraminousbottom and sides, said vessel containing absorbent material.

15. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a spiderframe, a vessel seated thereon and having a foraminous bottom and sides,and a canvas lining for the interior of the vessel.

16. In an apparatus of the type set forth, a depressible operatingelement, a nidus including a medium favorable to aerobic bacterialgrowths, a closet pan, and means operated by said element when depressedfor causing the discharges of-the liquid contents of the closet pan uponsuccessive portions of the surface of said medium.

17. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a depressibleoperating element, a rotatably mounted nidus includin a medium favorableto aerobic bacteria growths, a closet pan, and means operated by saidelement when depressed for causing successive partial rotations of thenidus in the samedirection.

18. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a closet pan,a nidus for aerobic bacteria disposed below said pan, an operatingelement and means set in motion by said operating element for causingrelative partial rotation between said pan and said nidus whereby theformer discharges its contents upon the nidus at successively locatedpoints.

19. In an apparatus of the type set forth, in combination, a revolublymounted foraminous vessel, means for rotating said vessel in a step bystep manner, and a closet pan constructed to discharge its liquidcontents upon the contents of said vessel at a fixed point in itsrotation.

20. A nidus for aerobic bacteria comprising a foraminous Vessel filledwith an absorb- A ent medium favorable to aerobic bacterial growth.

21. A nidus for aerobic bacteria compris- 15 DGSSGS.

EDGAR LAWRY SHORT. Witnesses EDWARD l EEDHAM WATERS, WILLIAM HERBERTWArERs.

